It’s no secret that sleep is good for you. Getting a good night’s sleep does more than power your body, it enhances your skin. A study in the British Medical Journal shows that sleep deprivation can be identified by looking at a person’s face. And the photos of individuals who are sleep deprived are considered less healthy-looking and attractive by others. When a person is tired, their eyes appear sunken in with dark circles underneath them, and they tend to have a more sallow look to the skin. So, instead of buying the most expensive skincare treatments, make your focus on achieving quality sleep. 

When you’re sleeping your body replenishes itself, from your overworked legs from running around the hospital to the skin on your face. Factors such as stress, exposure to sunlight, and environmental toxins in the air can all change the appearance of your skin. Being home at night allows your skin to recuperate from the day. There is no exposure to toxins or UV rays when you’re sleeping. By getting quality sleep, you will feel and look better the following day, and sleep is a lot cheaper than getting a facial. 

How to take care of your skin in addition to beauty sleep:

• Skin cleansing – washing your face is the first step in your beauty routine. Before you layer on your moisturizers or serums you need a fresh and clean surface. Your face wash should remove your makeup and any other dirt and oils on your face. You don’t want a face wash that leaves your face feeling tight, that means it’s too harsh for your face. 
• Moisturizer – once your face is cleaned with face wash, you will want to seal in the hydration with a moisturizer. Make sure to check the ingredients and avoid any fragrance in your moisturizer as this could cause inflammation. Any product with hyaluronic acid is a good start for sealing in moisture and keeping your skin hydrated. 
• Topical retinoids – topical retinoids should be used at night as they are light sensitive. These include tretinoin, or products containing retinol. Retinoids can make your skin appear younger by stimulating the production of collagen, thickening the epidermis, and lighting brown spots on the skin. 
• Sleeping position – if you always sleep on your right sight, you are more likely to form wrinkles and fine lines on that side. Sleeping on your back is ideal for preventing fine lines and wrinkles, however, some people are adamant side sleepers. If you must sleep on your side, make sure you switch sides to more evenly distribute your weight. 
• Control the temperature – in the winter months when the heat is blasting, this can be very drying to your skin. To combat this you can use a humidifier to add moisture to the air and your skin. Running the humidifier for a few hours each night in your bedroom should help your skin feel less dry and dull. 
• Home remedies – home remedies may not work for serious skin conditions, but for added hydration, they can help. Some ingredients you probably have at home are honey, green tea bags, and oatmeal. All of these ingredients, when used separately or possibly together, can really benefit the skin. If you research online, there are so many homemade masks you can make with these ingredients.

Another reason to get a good night’s sleep, not that you need one, is improving the appearance of your skin. There’s a reason why they call it beauty sleep. Besides waking up and feeling refreshed, your skin is also appreciative of the “rest” it achieved by sleeping a healthy amount.